September
Meet The Maker
Nathan Lygon
Nathan is a Yuin, Dharawal and Wolgalu man, cultural educator, songman, and community leader with a lifelong commitment to sharing and strengthening Aboriginal culture, language, and knowledge.
For more than a decade, Nathan has worked as a cultural educator and consultant, supporting learning and cultural understanding across community and education settings. He is an active member of the local Aboriginal community, serving as Chairperson of Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, Vice Chair of the Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, and a passionate member of the Yanda Biratj language group.
As a lead member and songman of the Duurunu Miru dance group, Nathan plays an important role in the continuation of cultural knowledge through song, dance, language, and storytelling.
An award-winning cultural guide, Nathan is deeply connected to Country and is known for sharing his knowledge of land, water, plants, animals, and local history in ways that are engaging, meaningful, and memorable. Whether walking Country, sharing stories, or teaching cultural practices, Nathan brings people together through connection, curiosity, and respect.
Join us as Nathan shares his journey, the responsibilities of cultural knowledge sharing, and the importance of keeping culture strong for future generations.
NEW DATE 5th August
Interested in sharing culture, stories, and experiences through tourism?
Join our online Cultural Tourism Workshop to explore how arts, culture, and Country can create meaningful tourism opportunities for communities, artists, creatives, and cultural practitioners.
This session will provide an introduction to cultural tourism, showcase successful Aboriginal-led tourism initiatives, and discuss how to identify opportunities within your region.
Participants will gain practical insights into developing authentic experiences, building partnerships, and understanding visitor expectations while ensuring culture remains respected and protected. Whether you're an artist, community member, organisation, or tourism operator, this workshop is for you.
May
Meet The Maker
Meet Elijah Ingram
Elijah Ingram is a digital artist, filmmaker and cultural advocate based in the Riverina region of NSW. As the co-founder and co-lead of Miil Miil Productions, Elijah is dedicated to preserving and promoting Aboriginal Language and Culture through innovative digital films, animations and immersive experiences.
Elijah's artistic practice is deeply rooted in his Wiradyuri heritage. His responsibilities, advocacy and consultation are wide reaching. He was a representative First Nations speaker to the United Nations in Geneva in 2022. In 2025 he was appointed by the NSW Minister for Arts to the board of the Museums of History and previously sat on two state assessment boards for Create NSW.
His body of work in film, digital and future media spans over six years placing Indigenous voices at the forefront of cultural preservation and innovation. In 2025 he co-wrote and produced 'Lords of the Soil', a one hour historical drama for cinema featuring Zach Blampied, Jake Speer, Leonie Whyman, and Bruce Spence.
APRIL
Developing a Marketing Strategy
About the Workshop
Join us for this month’s ARAA workshop focused on marketing your creative practice.
Using a guided workbook, this session will explore the fundamentals of marketing helping you define your brand, understand your audience, and identify what makes your work unique.
Marketing is about connection how you share your story and engage with your community.
What You’ll Learn
Your creative identity and brand
Your audience and community
What makes your work unique
Ways to communicate your work with confidence
Who It’s For
Open to artists and creatives at all stages.
February
Meet the Maker: With Sooty Welsh
For our February Meet the Maker, we’re proud to feature Sooty Welsh, a Wailwan artist who has returned home to Coonamble after many years living and working in Sydney.
Sooty is a ceramic artist whose hand-crafted pieces are richly glazed and etched with markings inspired by the traditional carvings of the Wailwan people. These ancient designs, once carved into trees and land across the region, carry a cultural rhythm that now finds new life through his pottery.
“I’ve never really thought much about being connected to Country,” Sooty reflects, “but I can feel it now it is home.”
Drawing inspiration from tree carvings, traditional tools, and cultural artifacts, Sooty’s work bridges ancient stories and contemporary expression. His creations from coolamon-inspired bowls to ceremonial pieces capture the mystery and spirit of markings that “have a magic feel about them.”
Beyond ceramics, Sooty also turns to photography and traditional artifact making to stay creatively grounded. Art, for him, is not only cultural expression but also healing.
Join us in celebrating Sooty’s creativity, resilience, and the cultural depth that shapes his artistic journey.
Meet the Maker: With Jamie-Lea Trindall & Tania Hartigan
Every artist’s journey is unique. In this Meet the Maker workshop, ARAA Board member Jamie-Lea Trindall and Artist Tania Hartigan will share their personal stories of the road that led them to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) 2025.
From early beginnings in their communities to showcasing their work on one of the biggest national stages, Jamie-Lea and Tania will talk about the challenges, learnings, and triumphs along the way. This is a chance to hear first-hand what it takes to grow as an artist, step into new opportunities, and represent culture with pride.
November
Canva for Creatives Workshop
Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to give Aboriginal artists and creatives the skills to bring their ideas to life with Canva. Whether you’re creating posters, flyers, or social media content, this session will help you design with confidence and make your work stand out.
This workshop is open to Aboriginal artists and creatives from Regional and Remote NSW who want to strengthen their digital design skills. No previous design experience is required.
